AAE Foundation awards grants to West Virginia University School of Dentistry and Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry endodontic programs

The American Association of Endodontics Foundation (AAEF) and Dentsply recently awarded grants to the West Virginia University School of Dentistry and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry.

The AAEF/Dentsply Innovation in Research Grant will equip the West Virginia University School of Dentistry with a dedicated endodontics research laboratory that will be used by faculty and students to prepare experimental samples and specimens. The 4,000-square-foot lab was developed in collaboration with the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute.

Above, from left to right: AAEF Trustee Dr. David Funderburk, West Virginia University School of Dentistry Dean Dr. Tom Borgia, AAE/AAEF Development Manager Alyson Hall, West Virgina University School of Dentistry Associate Dean for Research Dr. Richard Jurevic, and Dentsply Tulsa Dental Specialties Senior Territory Manager Terry Bennett.

"The AAE Foundation and Dentsply Tulsa Dental Specialties are honored to present this award in recognition of WVU's new initiatives to promote excellence in research," Dr. Funderburk said.

The grant is given annually to one or more universities, chosen based on their achievements in research or their future goals for developing research initiatives at their institutions. The intent is to highlight and promote excellence in endodontics research.

The AAEF also awarded a $100,000 Endowed Faculty Matching Grant to Virginia Commonwealth University. The grant will allow the university to endow the R. Neil Dodds Professorship. The money from this endowment will be used to supplement the salary of the endodontic program director for the graduate students. The grant was presented by AAE President Dr. Terryl A. Propper and Foundation Past President Dr. A. Eddy Skidmore.

Above, from left to right: AAE President Dr. Terryl Propper, AAEF Past President Dr. A. Eddy Skidmore, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry Dean Dr. David Sarrett, Virginia Commonwealth Director of Advanced Education Program in Endodontics, and AAE Vice President Dr. Garry Myers.

"Our goal is to ensure that all endodontic residents will be exposed to the brightest minds, the latest information and the most current techniques in the specialty," said Virginia Commonwealth School of Dentistry Dean Dr. David C. Sarrett. "The endowed faculty position helps VCU School of Dentistry attract and retain top-notch endodontic educators. We are grateful to the donors who helped make this a reality and extremely thankful to the AAE Foundation for their support. Everyone is to be commended for their continued generosity."

Source: AAEF press release 15 January 2016

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